Hybrid telephony device

Abstract

A device configured to draw current from one of a PSTN source and a battery source depending on a mode of operation of the device is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes a circuit that is configured to draw current from the PSTN source during a first condition and from the battery source during a second condition. Preferably, the circuit is defaulted to draw current from the battery source. The first condition can be associated with an off-hook condition. The second condition can be associated with an on-hook condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A telephone device comprising:
 a cordless telephone base station; and 
 a circuit housed within the base station and configured to draw current from a PSTN source during an off-hook condition and exclusively from a battery source during an on-hook condition, wherein the battery source is configured to supplement current drawn from the PSTN during the off-hook condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the circuit is defaulted to draw current from the battery source. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cordless-handset in radio communication with the base unit. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , wherein the base unit and the handset maintains a periodic radio communication during the on-hook condition. 
     
     
       5. A cordless telephone comprising:
 a base unit configured to communicate with a PSTN; 
 a battery housed within the base unit; and 
 a microcontroller housed within the base unit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a first signal during an off-hook condition and a second signal during an on-hook condition, 
 wherein the first signal results in current being drawn exclusively from the PSTN and the second signal results in current being drawn exclusively from the battery, 
 wherein the battery is configured to supplement current drawn from the PSTN during the off-hook condition, when current requirements of the cordless telephone exceed what current can be drawn from the PSTN source. 
 
     
     
       6. The cordless telephone of  claim 5 , wherein the first signal is a high control signal and the second signal is a low control signal. 
     
     
       7. The cordless telephone of  claim 5 , wherein the battery includes a primary battery cell. 
     
     
       8. The cordless telephone of  claim 5 , wherein the battery includes an alkaline battery cell. 
     
     
       9. The cordless telephone of  claim 5 , wherein the battery includes a rechargeable battery cell. 
     
     
       10. The cordless telephone of  claim 9 , further comprising a battery charger housed within the based unit, wherein the battery charger is configured to draw current from the PSTN to recharge the rechargeable battery cell. 
     
     
       11. A cordless telephone comprising:
 a base unit configured to draw current from a PSTN source; 
 a battery source housed within the base unit; 
 a handset configured to communicate with the base unit using radio communication; 
 a microcontroller housed within the base unit, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a control signal that is either high or low depending on a mode of operation of the device; 
 means for drawing current exclusively from the PSTN source during a first mode of operation of the device; and 
 means for supplementing the current drawn from the PSTN source with the battery source during a second mode of operation of the device. 
 
     
     
       12. The cordless telephone of  claim 11 , wherein the current is drawn from at least the PSTN source when the control signal is high and the current is drawn exclusively from the battery source when the control signal is low. 
     
     
       13. The cordless telephone of  claim 11 , wherein a low control signal is associated with a mode of operation that involves a radio communication between the base unit and the handset. 
     
     
       14. The cordless telephone of  claim 11 , wherein a high control signal is associated with a mode of operation that does not involve a radio communication between the base unit and the handset. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 defaulting a device to draw current from a battery source; 
 monitoring a mode of operation of the device; 
 continuing to draw current from the battery source if the mode of operation involves an on-hook condition; 
 drawing current exclusively from a PSTN source when the mode of operation involves an off-hook condition; and 
 supplementing the current drawn from the PSTN source with the battery source during the off-hook condition, when current requirements of the device exceed what current can be drawn from the PSTN source. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising generating a control signal that is either high or low depending on the mode of operation. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the current is drawn from the PSTN source when the control signal is high and from the battery source when the control signal is low. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising recharging the battery source with current drawn from the PSTN source.